Automatic flushing-valve.



No. 870,916. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

E. G. WATROUS. AUTOMATIC PLUSHING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1901.

EARL G. WATROUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed August 9.1901. Serial No. 71.544:-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL Gr. WATROUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Flushing- Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic flushing valves more particularly designed for urinals, range closets, and the like, where an automatic periodical flushing is desired, and the object of my invention is to provide, to this end, a construction and arrangement which shall not only be simple, efficient and reliable, but which shall be capable of properly discharging the water from the tank Whenever the water therein reaches a predetermined level, regardless of the length of time or interval between flushings. In the drawing Figure l is a sectional elevation of my device on line l-1 of Fig. 2 showing the valve which controls the siphon open; Fig. 2 a side elevation of my device; Fig. 3 a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the siphon closed; Fig. 4 a detail view showing the construction of the siphon valve; and Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of a modified form of device.

The same letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts in the different views.

As herein shown my invention contemplates the use of a main siphon A whose longer leg a is secured to and passes through the bottom of an ordinary tank B such as is commonly employed in devices of this general character. The shorter leg a of this siphon terminates a suitable distance above the bottom of the tank so as to leave sufficient room for the operation of a valve about to be described to control the discharge or flow of water from the tank through the siphon. A second smaller siphon O is arranged in the tank with its longer leg 0 extending longitudinally through and fixed in the long leg a of the large siphon A, and with its shorter leg 0 depending into a can or float D, Figs. 1 and 3. This can or float D is open at its top, where it is provided with a bridge or guide piece d having a central hole to receive the leg 0 of the small siphon. An arm d, separate or integral with this guide piece, rises vertically from a side of the float and then extends laterally across the top of the short leg a of the main'siphon where it passes through a central lug e on a disk valve E or is otherwise operatively connected therewith. This valve seats upon and governs an opening a 10- cated in the top of the short leg at of the main siphon and adapted to provide an overflow as hereinafter made apparent. The can or float is provided, in any suitable manner, with a preferably central downward extension or projection d having a socket d communicating through a bottom opening with the interior of the can and receiving the lower end of the siphon leg 0. A lateral opening or port 0 is formed in this siphon leg near its lower end for a purpose hereinafter explained.

A valve F, arranged in axial alinement with the short leg a of the large or main siphon A and adapted to seat against its lower end, is connected to the upper valve E by a vertical rod e whose length is such that whenever the main siphon is closed at its lower end by the valve F, when the can is in raised position, Fig. 3, the siphon is opened at its upper end by the valve E, and vice versa. This connecting rod 0 extends longitudinally of the siphon leg (1 and is guided by a cross piece 2 therein. The valve F may be made in any suitable manner to properly seat on the lower or open end of the shorter leg 0/ of the siphon when the can or float is in its raised position, and thereby, at such time,

effectually close communication between the tank and the siphon except for the overflow through opening In the present instance the valve is provided with wings or arms f fitting into the siphon to properly guide and center the valve, and the valve proper consists of a rubber or other flexible disk or ring b confined between metal disks b, the lower one of which has its upper surface beveled otf around its periphery, as shown, to permit the disk I) to yield and readily adjust itself as it seats against the lower end of the siphon leg 0.

Assuming that the flushing has just occurred the parts occupy at such time the relative position shown in Fig. 1, wherein it is seen that the water has been drained or discharged from the tank to the level of the mouth or open end of the siphon leg a, and has also been drained from the can or float D, the valve E closing the overflow opening and also supporting the can through its connection with the arm d as shown in Fig. 1. In devices of the general class herein described the water supply to the tank is practically continuous and the water is admitted at a rate regulated according to the desired length of the'intervals between the flushing operations. As the level of the water rises, due to the incoming water thus admitted, the empty can D, constituting at this time a float, rises with such water, being guided in its upward movement by the pipe or leg 0 of the small siphon, such leg being received by the bridge or guide piece at the top of the can and by the socket in the bottom thereof. Both valves being operatively connected with the can are also carried upwardly, the valve F being caused to seat against-the open lower end of the siphon leg a, and the valve E being raised from its seat so as to open the overflow a Fig. 3. When the valve F thus seats, the further upward movement of the can is arrested and the incoming water continu ing to rise in the tank will overflow the open top of the can and, in time, will fill it. As soon as the buoyant effect of the can is overcome by the weight of the contained water, the can, now submerged or practically so, will descend, thereby seating the overflow valve E and withdrawing the valve F from its seat against the lower end of the siphon leg a and permitting the water to immediately rise in that leg of the siphon, and discharge through the long leg thereof, which discharge will continue by virtue of the siphonic action established until the water in the tank has been lowered beneath the level of the lower end of the short leg of the siphon, Fig. 1.

Before the can D can operate a second time in the manner just described it is necessary that it shall be emptied of its contained water, and for this purpose I employ the small siphon O hereinbefore referred to. \Vhen the can is in its lower position, Fig. 1, the hole c in the lower end of the leg 0 of said siphon will be exposed above the bottom of the can so as to communia cate with the interior thereof. The discharge of water through the long leg of the large siphon past the 1 lower end of the small siphon will have a tendency to create a vacuum in the small siphon so as to induce the formation of a siphonic flow from the can D through such small siphon, which flow will continue until the can has been completely emptied.

The purpose of the socket d at the bottom of the can D is to accommodate the lower end of the siphon leg 0 when the can rises, and incidentally to assist in guiding the can in its vertical movement If the siphon leg be sufficiently shortened to permit the can to rise far enough to close the valve F before the bottom of the can D contacts with the end of the siphon the socket may be dispensed with and the can be provided with an imperforate bottom, but in such case the siphon G will not entirely empty the can D after each flushing operation, since when the can descends to its lowest position the leg 0 of the siphon would not reach the bottom of the can. Inasmuch as the can would therefore always be left partially filled with water it would not rise so promptly, to close the valve F, as where it contained no water at the beginning of its upward movement. Otherwise the operation and results would remain the same as under the construction illustrated in the drawing. Even when the can is provided with a central depending socket to accommodate the lower endof the siphon leg it is not essential that the siphon leg be provided with the hole 0 nor, indeed, that the lower end of the siphon leg shall extend into such socket when the can is in its lower position. In the former case the fit may be sufliciently'loose to permit the can to be drained through the socket and lower end of the siphon leg without the provision of the hole 0 while in the latter case the lower end of the siphon leg would be in free communication with the interior of the can, above the bottom thereof, when the can was in low er position; as will be readily understood.

As will be understood from the foregoing description the valve F positively closes the inlet proper of the siphon A as the water rises in the tank, and maintains it closed until a certain predetermined water level is attained in the tank. Consequently the flushing operation will always occur when such level is reached regardless of the length of interval between flushings, whether it should be one minute, thirty minutes, one hour, or in fact a whole day, depending upon the regulation of the constant water supply.

As shown, the highest attainable plane reached by the top of the can is slightly below the plane of the top of the overflow opening, so that such opening does not interfere with the described operation of the can. If, however, by any chance, the can should fail to descend when filled, and thereby open valve F, the Water, rising in the tank, would overflow through the opening (1 whereby all danger of flooding by overflow of the tankis overcome. While the overflow device is not essential, yet it is desirable as a matter of precaution.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a modified form of construction in which the overflow device is omitted and provision made for operating the siphon valve F by means of a cross piece G secured to the bottom of the can and itself provided with a depending socket, such cross piece extending laterally beyond the can and carrying upon its end the siphon valve. The depending socket is adapted to rest upon the bottom of the tank and support the can when the tank is drained of water. The operation of this modified form is similar to that of the other form already described.

The particular construction of the valve F of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is shown in detail inFig. 4, where it will be seen that the upper metal disk b of the valve, which carries the guide wings f, is provided upon its under side with a depending central boss f which is exteriorly threaded to receive a nut 9 provided with aflange constituting the lower metal disk b, between which latter and the upper disk b the rubber valve disk b is confined, as heretofore explained. The upper disk I) and its depending boss f are provided with a central vertical hole through which loosely passes the lower end of the valve stem or rod e, and the latter is provided upon its extreme lowerend with an enlargement or ball h loosely fitting in a recess formed to receive it in the lower end of the boss f. The valve F is thus suspended upon the valve stem or rod 6 by this enlargement h, and as the lower end of the valve stem passes loosely through the central aperture in the upper disk 6 and boss f the valve is permitted free play upon the lower end of the valve stem, so that it may readily adjust itself to the lower end of the siphon leg a, and seat tightly against the same when lifted thereto by the rising float D, as heretofore explained.

I claim:

1. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a main siphon therein for discharging water from the tank, a valve adapted to govern the inlet or shorter leg of the siphon, an open top can or float governing said valve and adapted to be filled with water when the water in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and a second siphon which is stationary and cooperates with the main siphon and such can for draining the latter of water after it has opened the valve; substantially as described.

2. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon therein for discharging the water from the tank and having an overflow opening, a valve for said opening, a valve'adapted to close communication between the tank and siphon when the tank is filling with water and a float device for operating said valve opening one valve when closing the other; substantially as described.

3. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank. a main siphon with its shorter leg open-able into a tank and adapted to automatically and periodically discharge Water therefrom, a valve arranged to control said leg of the siphon, a can or float connected to and adapted to control said valve, into which can Water flows after the movement of such can is arrested by the closing of the valve, and means for emptying the can after the valve has been opened comprising a second fixed siphon connected to the main siphon and unconnected to but coijperating with said can, which is movable relatively to such second siphon; substantially as described.

4. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a main siphon therein for discharging the water therefrom, a valve controlling communication between the siphon and tank, and a can open at its top and operatively connected to said valve, asecond siphon fixed to and communicating with the main siphon and depending in such can for emptying the same, such can having a relative movement with respect to such second siphon and being guided thereby, whereby when the can becomes submerged and descends owing to flow of water therein after a predetermined water level is reached in the tank, the valve is opened and the water in the tank is discharged by action of the main siphon and the water in the can is discharged by action of the second siphon; substantially as described.

5. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a main stationary siphon arranged therein, a valve controlling communication between the tank and siphon, a can or float operatively connected to said valve, and a second siphon connected to and communicating with the long leg of the main siphon, such second siphon communicating with such can for draining it of water after a flushing operation; substantially as described.

6. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon therein, a valve controlling communication between the tank and siphon, a can or float connected to said valve for operating it, and a second siphon on whose shorter leg the can is guided in its movement and which serves to drain the can after each flushing operation; substantially as described.

7. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon therein, a valve controlling communication between the tank and siphon, a can or float connected to said valve for operating it, a second siphon whose shorter leg depends into said can, and a socket depending from the bottom of the can and adapted to receive the lower end of said siphon leg as the can rises; substantially as described.

8. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon arranged therein, a valve con trolling communication between the tank and siphon, a can or float arranged adjacent to and at one side of the siphon and having a lateral arm, a connection between the arm and valve extending longitudinally through the siphon. means independent of the siphon for guiding the can, and a second siphon coiiperating with the can whereby the latter is drained after being filled with water at the flushing operation, said last named siphon being controlled by the movements of the can; substantially as described.

9. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon therein, a valve controlling communication between the tank and siphon, a can or float having a bottom opening and also having a socket registering with said bottom opening, an operative connection between the can and valve, and a second siphon having its shorter leg extending into the can and entering said socket; substantially as described.

10. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon therein, a valve controlling communication between the tank and siphon, a can or float Iopen atits upper end and having a bottom opening, a

bridge arranged across such open upper end of the can and provided with a guide opening or hole, a depending socket registering with such bottom opening, and a second siphon whose shorter leg is received by said guide opening and socket; substantially as described.

11. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon for discharging water therefrom, a second siphon in the tank communicating with the first siphon above its point of inlet, and a can or float into which the second siphon extends and which controls both of said siphons, said siphons being stationary and .the can movable; substantially as described.

12. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a main siphon for discharging water therefrom, a second siphon stationarily arranged in the tank and communicating with the main siphon, a can or float into which the second siphon extends and which governs its lower end, and an overflow device formed in the main siphon and controlled by said can, substantially as described.

13. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a main siphon for discharging water therefrom and provided with an overflow opening, a can or float, a second siphon stationarily arranged within the tank for draining the can, and valves operatively connected with each other and with the can for governing respectively the overflow opening and the main siphon; substantially as described. V

14. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon with its shorter leg in the tank, and provided with an overflow opening at the top end of such leg, a siphon valve controlling said leg of the siphon, an overflow valve controlling said overflow opening, a can or float operatively connected to said valve and over whose top the water flows after its movement is arrested by the closing of the siphon valve, and a second siphon stationarily arranged in the tank and coiiperating between the first siphon and the can for draining the latter after it has operated said valves, said second siphon being controlled in its opening and closing by the can in its movements.

15. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon for discharging the water from the tank, a siphon-valve governing the siphon leg within the tank, and a second siphon stationarily arranged in the tank and connected with said first named siphon, and means for controlling said valve, comprising a can opening at its outer end and operatively connected with the siphon valve, said second siphon extending into the can and controlled by the latter in its movement.

16. An automatic flushing device comprising, in combination with a tank, a siphon having one leg within the tank and provided with an overflow opening at the top end of such leg, a siphon valve controlling said leg, an overflow valve controlling said opening, a connection between the valves so that when one is open the other is closed, and an open can or float operatively connected to said valves and over whose top the water flows after its movement is arrested by the closing of the siphon valve; substantially as described.

17. The combination of the tank B, large siphon A, small siphon C having its longer leg extending through and fixed in the long leg of the siphon A, the can D into which the short leg of the siphon depends, and the valve F moving vertically with the can D and independently of the small siphon and seating against the lower end of the short leg of the siphon A; substantially as described.

18. The combination of the tank B, large siphon A, small siphon C having its long leg extending through and fixed in the long leg'of the siphon A, the can D guided upon and receiving the short leg of the siphon C, and the valve F carried by the can D and seating against the lower end of the short leg of the siphon A; substantially as described.

19. The combination of the tank B, the large siphon A, the small siphon C having its long leg extending through and fixed in the long leg of the siphon A, the can guided upon and receiving the short leg of the siphon C and pro vided with the depending socket d to accommodate the lower end of said leg of the siphon C, an arm cl on the can, a connecting rod 0 between said arm and a valve F cooperating with the lower end of the short leg of the siphon A; substantially as described.

20. The combination of the tank B, large siphon A, small siphon C having its long leg extending through and fixed in the long leg of the siphon A, the can D into which the short leg of the siphon C depends, and the valve F carried by the can D and cooperating with the lower end of the short leg of the siphon A and provided with the guide wings f fitting therein; substantially as described.

21. In combination with a tank, a siphon A having its long leg a extending through the tank and its short leg a communicating with the tank, a second siphon C having its long leg 0 entering the leg a of siphon A, and haying a hole 0 near the end of its short ieg, an open ended long leg a e'xtending through the tank and its short leg a can or float D having a bridge d provided with an opencommunicating with the tank and provided with an overing and also having a bottom opening and a socket d How opening a a valve E controlling the said opening, a registering with said bottom opening; an arm 11 .on the valve F controlling said short leg, 3. connecting rod 6 ex- 5 can, a connectingrod e operated by said arm, and a valve tending through such short leg and secured to both said F'carried by said rod and adapted to be seated on the I valves, and a can or float D having an arm (1 connected open end of the leg 1' of the siphon A, said can being to said valve E; substantially as described. adapted to move up and down on the leg 0' of the siphon EARL G. WATROUS. C and operate valve F and also to control said hole 0 Witnesses: 10 Substantially as described S. E. HIBBEN,

22. In combination with a tank, a siphon A having its 1 JOHN H. BERKSTRESSER. 

